Register-actuating mechanism.



No. 784,862. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. W. W. JOHNSON. REGISTER ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 19. 1904.

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WITNESSES. INVENTOR W WZZz'amJ/Cfofmow ATTORNEYS .No. 784,862. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1965.

- W. W. JOHNSON.

REGISTER AOTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1904.

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IVILLIAM 1V. JOHNSON, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

REGISTER- ACTUATING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,862, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed March 19, 1904. Serial No. 199,014.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM 1V. JonNsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Register Actuating Mechanism, of which the following is a full,'clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to registers, and more particularly to the actuating mechanism thereof.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved form of actuating mechanism for registers used upon tram-cars and other public vehicles and also suitable for use in connection with all inclosures where it is desirable to register 7 the entries of persons therein.

With the object above stated and others in view, as will appear as the invention is disclosed, the same consists in the. novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, and exact mode of assembling all the elements exhibited may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Figure 1 is a view of the invention as applied to an ordinary tram or trolley car. Fig. 2 is a sectional view upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view, in horizontal section, through a car-step, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 4 is a detail View, in vertical section, through the carstep, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 5 is a detail view, in vertical section, through the car-step, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views, 1 designates the box or body of the car, and 2 denotes one of the steps of the car. The step 2 of the car is of the ordinary construction, but is covered practically completely by a foot-plate 3, which is pivotally mounted at the edge of the step. The plate 3 is stiil'encd along its forward margin by the provision of a rounded rib 4, from the ends of which project pivots 5 5, which turn in small I-bolts 6, secured in the step of the car. The rear portion of the foot-plate 3 is normally raised slightly above the step 2 by a spring, preferably of the type commonly known as a leafspring and indicated at 7. attached to the under surface of the footplate 3 by rivets or other suitable fastening means intermediate of its ends, which are bent downward and rest upon the step of the car. The upward movement of the pivoted foot-plate under the action of the spring is limited by means of suitable stops 8, arranged at the back of the step, and the downward movement of the foot-plate when weight is placed thereon is limited by a lip 9, formed at the rear margin of the plate.

The pivoted foot-plate is that part of the register-actuating mechanism which receives the initial force expended in actuating the register, and connections of numerous different kinds may be interposed between the pivoted foot-plate and the register provided upon the car. In the form of the invention illustrated the pivoted foot-plate is connected at one of its rear corners with a link 10, which is pivotally connected with a rod 11, said rod being arranged for vertical sliding movement in suitable guide loops or eyes 12, provided upon the end of the car. At its upper end the rod 11 is pivotally connected with a link 13, which is in turn pivoted to an arm 14, which projects from a rock-shaft 15, rotatably mounted in suitable supports 16 upon the car-body. The rock-shaft 15 has projecting therefrom in directions approximately opposite to that of the arm 14 a pair of slotted arms 17, each of which extends through an opening 18 in the end wall of the car and is slotted at its free end. The arms 17 are directly connected with the operating-rods I9 20 of the register 21 and bell 22, respectively, the two rods 19 20 being each provided near its lower end with a stud extending through the slot in one of the arms 17.

In the operation of the register-actuating mechanism the weight of a passenger entering the car is imposed upon the foot-plate when the passenger starts to board the ear,

The spring 7 isv and this weight depresses the foot-plate against the elasticity of its supporting-spring, at the same time drawing the rod 11 downward and imparting to the rock-shaft 15 a slight rocking movement. The movement of the rockshaft is imparted to the rods 19 20, by which the register 21 and the bell 22 are operated, and hence whenever a passenger boards the car the register is immediately operated and the bell is sounded to attract the attention of the conductor to the entrance of the passenger.

If so desired, the register-actuating mechanism may be adapted to indicate whether a child boarding the car should pay fare or be allowed to ride free. This function is accomplished by simply making use of a spring of such strength that a certain weight---say fifty pounds is required to overcome its elasticitysufficiently to depress the foot-plate and actuate the register.

As the register-actuating mechanism above described may be operated whenever a sufiicient weight is imposed upon the foot-plate to depress it, it is obvious that the register will be operated every time a passenger steps upon the foot-plate, and in order to avoid the actuation of the registering mechanism when passengers leave the car, as well as when they enter, it is preferable that the passengers be prevented from leaving the car by the route by which they entered.

In describing my invention I have disclosed it as applied to a car only, as it is primarily intended for use upon cars and other public vehicles; but it is readily susceptible of application to the entrance of any inclosure into Which it is desirable to register the entries, and it is readily applicable to registers of various different types, as will be understood. I have therefore shown it as applied to a register of the ordinary type and have omitted all description of the specific construction of the register which does not form a part of the present invention.

In the embodiment of the invention described the bell and the register are shown as separate structures which are entirely independent, except that both are operated by the same mechanism. As many registers are provided with bells, which form a part hereof, a separate bell may be omitted, if so desired. IVhile the devices connectingthe pivoted footplate and the register are shown and described in a preferred form, it is obvious than connecting devices of different character may be employed and that the connecting devices may be concealed within the structure of the carbody.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a suitable supporting structure, of a register and register-actuating devices including a pivoted foot-plate carried by said supporting structure and having a downwardly-turned lip at its free margin, a spring disposed. between the foot-plate and the supporting structure, and connections between the foot-plate and the register.

2. The combination with a register, of actuating mechanism therefor, said mechanism comprising a support, a foot-plate pivotally mounted at one margin upon said support, a spring disposed beneath said foot-plate and having its ends resting upon the support, a pair of catches adapted to engage the free margin of the pivoted foot-plate, to limit its upward movement, and connections between said foot-plate and said register.

3. The combination with a register for a car or the like, of a step, a foot-plate thickened at its forward margin and pivotally mounted at the front of the step, said foot-platehavinga downwardly-turned lip at its rear margin, a pair of catches extending upward from said step at the back thereof and engaging said foot-plate, a spring attached to the under surface of said foot-plate and engaging said step,

and connections between said foot-plate and I 

